Portable seed and fertilizer drill



Feb. 4, 1941.

L. J. PETTETT PORTABLE SEED AND FERTILIZER DRILL Filed Oct. 19, 1939 2 SheetsSheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Feb 4f1941 L. .JQ PETTETT A i PORTABLE SEED AND FERTILZER DRILL 2 VShea ts-Sheet 2 fNvEN-roR 5V/ PETTETT .or//l//V/f/l//l Filed Oct. 19, 19:59

' ATTRNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1.941` I UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SEED AND FERTmzEn DRILL Levi Jack Petten, Lwklana, ohio lApplication October-19, 1939, Serial No. 300,196

ls claims'. (o1. 111-95) The present invention relates to portable seed ably take the form of the cylindrical valves, drills, and more particularly to a portable seed through one element, it is possible to deposit `the drill capable of depositing seed substantially unseed and fertilizer substantially simultaneously. contaminated by fertilizer but practically simul- As a result of the unique structure provided by taneously therewith. t my portable seed drill, the seed is placed at the 5 It is an object of the present invention to prosite of planting in such a manner that each vide a portable seed drill capable of depositing particle of the seed is substantially equidistant seed and fertilizer practically simultaneously, in from'the fertilizer.' In this manneradvantage is which the seed is substantially uncontaminated taken of the latest investigations concerning the w. by the fertilizer.l effect of various variables on theeiiiciency of a It is another object of the present invention to given amount of fertilizerD provide a portablemeans for depositing fertilizer In order that those skilled in the art may have and seed in such manner that substantially all a better understanding of my improved portable the fertilizer is equi-distant from the seedf but not seed drill and fertilizer distributor, a description in contact therewith. of a preferred embodiment is given here below 15 It is a further object of the present invention for illustrative purposes. to provide a portable dropping mechanism for In Fig. 1 is illustrated a preferred embodiment both seedl and fertilizer with positive control of my portable seed and fertilizer distributing through a common element. i device. `A suitable casing I is divided into a 2@ Other objects and advantages will become applurality, for example two, compartments or hop- 20 parent to those skilled in` the art from the folpers 2 and 3 by means of a partition i. A means lowing description, taken in conjunction with the for lifting the seed drill or for holding it steady ,accompanying drawings, in which: during operation, such as handle 5, is provided. Fig. l is a side elevation of an embodiment of An actuating means or lever 6 is likewise prog the present invention; vided for actuating the seed and fertilizer meter- Fig. 2 is an end 'elevation of the upper portion ing devices as well as assisting in the movement of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1; of the drill from place to place. Handle 5 and Figure 3-is an enlarged front elevational view of lever or handle 6 may be positioned on the same the lower end of" a preferred embodiment of the side of 0casing I 'or on' opposite sides of casing l. present invention showing the tubular support- Lever 6 is pivoted on pin 'l and by means of 30 ing member in section for the sake of clarity; links 8 and 9 and arms I0 andv II rotates seed Fig. 4 is a vertical'sectional 4view of a portion metering device ,I2 and fertilizer metering device of an embodiment of the present invention show I3 through a predetermined angle. Links 8 and ingseed and fertilizer metering devices; 9 are pivoted on handle. 6 by means of pin" I4,- Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View showing a side while arm l0 is pivoted to link bymeans of pin 35 elevation of a fertilizer metering device; and I5 and arm Il is pivoted` to link 9 by means of Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the dis'- `pin I6. YAt the lower'end of casing If a sleeve I'lv charge end of an embodiment of the present inf "is`provided in which conduit or tubular support` vention capable of depositing seed and fertilizer I8 issecured to casing I. Batlle .I8 a is mounted o at substantially the same ground level. as a, spiral'on casing I9and is securedqthereo Broadly stated, my improved portable seed drillto4 by conventional means. .Baliie Illa insures includes hoppers or bins serving as reservoirs for that in passing down through ,caslng I8, the

' seed and fertilizer, together with' suitable confertilizer will be evenly distributedaround the 'duits for conveying the seed and the fertilizer entire inner periphery of casing I8. -Of course,

from the storage bins to the site of deposition. casing .I and tubular support I8`may be made in 45 Disposed in each conduit is a closure means for one piece. Conduit I8 serves not only as a base interrupting the movement of seed and fertilizer or support for casing I but also provides'a tubufromy the storage bins to the site of deposition. lar means for delivering apredetermined quantity These closure means are operated by a common., of fertilizer to the soil in the immediate vicinity n element. A hand grip is provided on the drill to of the seed as deposited. Within tubular sup- 50 enable the operator to carry the drill conveniently port` I8 and preferably concentric therewith is from piace to place, and to enable the operator secured a casing i9 by means of which a predeteryto hold it'rm when actuating t h e closure means. mined quantity f seed is delivered to the ground An important feature of my improved portable Within the Jencircling deposit of fertilizer. The

seed drill and fertilizer distributing mechanism seed'metering device I2 also serves as a'closure 55 is the means, such as disclosed in my U. S. Patent means for hopper 2. Closure means I2 or seed No. 2,153,991 granted April 11, 1939, whereby the metering device I2 comprises a metering` cylinder deposition of the fertilizer substantially in the 20 providedfwith an adjustable segment 2l by form of a ring is secured. Furthermore, through means of which the volume of seed cavity 22 may .n the actuation/of the closure means, which preferbe adjusted to deliver a predetermined'quantity au of seed at each positive operation of handle 6. After adjustment of the volume of seed cavity 22, segment 2| is secured in position by means of screw 23 (Fig. 4). Seed metering cylinder 29 is mounted on shaft 24, which is journaled'in position in the side walls of hopper 2. Arm I9 is attached to shaft 24 and, as those skilled in the art will readily understand, movement of handle 6 to the right in Fig. 1 rotates said metering cylinder I2 in a clockwise direction through a predetermined arc. i

,Fertilizer metering cylinder I3 provides a closure means for fertilizer hopper 3 and is mounted on shaft 29. Shaft 29 is, of course, journaled in the sides of fertilizer hopper 3. Fertilizer metering cylinder I3 likewise is provided with a cavity 25 into which a metered quantity of fertilizer drops prior to the rotation of fertilizermetering cylinder I3. The volume of fertilizer fed to cavity 25 is regulated by means of a triangular-shaped orifice 26 in rotatably mounted'sleeve 21 which is locked in position by means of screw 28 slidably mounted in arcuate slot 29a. Arm II is securely fixed to shaft 29 of the fertilizer metering cylinder and pivotally attached to link 9 by means of pin I 6.

A link 39 is likewise pivoted on pin I6 and actuated by handle 6 through link 9. In the vicinity of the lower end of link 39 a slot 3| is provided for the adjustable attachment of links 32 and 33. Links 32 and 33 are pivotally mounted `on pin or bolt 34, which may be movedin slot 39 and secured at a predetermined position therein by means of a nut (not shown) or'any similar device. Links 32 and 3 3 are merely retained on bolt 34 by means of a nut or similar device 35. At the outer extremities of links 32 and 33, arms 36 and 31 are pivotally mounted on pi s 38 and 39, respectively. Soil opening devices 49 and 4I are rigidly securedto the extremities of arms 36 and 31. Arms 36 and 31 together with the extensions, to wit: -soil opening fdevices 49 and 4I, are pivoted on shafts 42 and ,43 mounted in ears 44 and 45 on collar 46. Collar 46 is secured to tubular support I8 by the compressive force ex- `erted by bolt 41 and nut 48 or similar means.

In the vicinity of the lower end of said seed delivering conduit or' casing I9 is attached a cone-shaped baille 49 positioned with the base of the cone downward. By the provision of baffle 48 contamination of theseed by the fertilizer is obviated.

`When for any reason it is unnecessary to deposit the seed and fertilizer below the surface level of the ground,the.ground openers 49 and 4I together with 'the actuating links. and arms may be dispensed with and a footing or auxiliary support 59 (Fig. 6) attached to tubular support I8. Footing 59'i's provided with`a arige 5I at ya suitable angle with Ithe upright portionof auxiliary `footing 59 and is frictionally secu'red) to` tubular support I8 by means of a bolt 52 and nut 53 or other similarmeans.

In my preferred embodiment of my novel portable seed drill, I prefer to provide a resilient baffle 54 within the seed'hopper 2.l Baiile 54 preferably is of spring steel or similar material and. mounted riearlthe upper portion of partition 4. By means of baille 54, anchored near the top of hopper 2 for convenience in adjusting, 'seed cavity 22'of seed metering cylinder 29 does not crush the seed as the seed metering cylinder 'rotates into the discharge position.

The 'operationofA my novel portable 'seedhdrill wilrbe readily understood-from the following description. Seed, such as corn, -quartered potatoes and the like, is placed in seed hopper 2 after adjusting seed cavity 22 to deliver a predetermined quantity of seed by rotating segment 2| and securing it in position by tightening screw 23. The volume of the cavity 25 in fertilizer metering cylinder I3 is adjusted to deliver a predetermined quantity of fertilizer by increasing or decreasing the area of the orifice of the cavity 25 by suitable movement of sleeve 21. After locking rotatable sleeve 21 in position by means of screw 28, a siutable quantity of fertilizer is introduced into hopper 3. After positioning the portable seed drill at a suitable place, the operator moves handle 6 to the right as indicated in Fig. 1.

With the handles in the position shown in Fig. 1 the metering cylinders I3 and 29 are in the charge position and the soil-opening devices 49 and 4I are in the closed or soil-entering position. The first movement of handles 6 to the right initiates the movement in opposite directions of soil-opening devices 49 and 4I to positions B and B' Fig. 3. Simultaneously the angular displacement of the metering cylinders I3 and 29 is initiated. With continued movement of handles 6 to the extreme right, the opening up of the ground is completed and members 49 and 4I reach the positions C and C' Fig. 3 and the contents of the metering cavities 22 and 25 are discharged into the distributing meansA I9 and I9. With return of handles 6 from the extreme right to the original position accompanied by retraction of the drill, the soil-opening devices 49 and 4I return to the closed position and the metering anti-clockwise manner to the charge position. The movement of this handle to the extreme outer position rotates saii metering cylinder 29 and fertilizer metering cylinder I3 through a predetermined angle discharging seed from metering cavity 22 and fertilizer from metering cylinders I3 and 29 are angularly displaced in an cavity 25. The seed drops into the inner conduit I9 while the fertilizer isl discharged into outer Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, modifications and variations may be made as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Thus, handles 5 and 6 may be on opposite sides of casing I and, instead of being in the vertical position normally, may be positionedhorizontally or otherwise. Furthermore, the'resilient baille 54 may be non-resilient without vitiating the underlying principles of the present invention. Such variations and modifications4 are to be considered .within the purview of the specification and scope of the presentv claims.

1. A portable seed and fernnzer distributor comprising ,a casingl divided into a seedbin and a fertilizer bin; angularly displaceable seed metering means infsaid seed bin; angularly displalceableI fertilizer metering means in said fertilizer bin; a first tubular member supporting said casing and being adapted todepositA fertilizer from said fertilizer bin at the side of planting as an annulus; a collar mounted on said first `arredare.

tubular member in the region of the lower extremity thereof and having two shafts mounted thereon at diametric points with the longitudinal edges of the shafts tangential to the outer periphery of said collar, the axis of said shafts being substantially normal to the vertical axisof said first tubular member; a soil-opening member pivotally mountedV on each of said shafts, said soil-opening members being of sufficient length in the direction parallel to the vertical axisvof said rst tubular member to meet at a point in the i extension of the vertical axis of said irst tubular member and to form thereby a soil-entering member, said soil-entering member being adapted to enter the soil of a prepared seed bed; at least one arm rigidly secured to each of said soilopening members and adapted to turn said soilopening members on said shafts; a second tubular member within and concentric with said first tubular member and adapted to convey seed from said seed bin to the site of planting, said-second tubular member extending sufficiently beyond the lower extremity of said first tubular member to be in close proximity with said soil-opening members when said soil-opening members are in position to form said soil-entering member; a truncated cone mounted on the outer periphery of said second tubular member and concentric` therewith, the base of said truncated cone being beyond the plane lof the lower extremity of sai-:1 lrst tubular member but short of the plane of the lower extremity of said second tubular member, said truncated cone being arranged to maintain seed and fertilizer separate during planting; a hand grip mounted on a wall of said seed bin; a second hand grip pivotally mounted on an outer wall lof said fertilizer bin; means mounted on said angularly displaceable seed andfertilizer metering means and on the arms of said s -opening members adapted to be actuated by said second hand grip whereby in one continuous movement said soil-opening members are displaced away from each other to open the` soil of a vprepared seed bed and said seed and fertilizer metering means are angularly displaced to discharge seed and fertilizer into said tubular members to deposit seed and fertilizer in the opening in the prepared seed bed made by said soil-opening members.

2. A portable seed and fertilizer v distributor comprising a seed bin and a fertilizer bin having a common wall; a tubularextension of the outer walls of said seed and fertilizer bins arranged to 'support said bins and adapted to convey fertilizer one arm rigidly secured to each of said soilopening members and adapted to rotate said soilopening members on said shaft; a tubular member within and concentric with said tubular extension and adapted to convey seed from seed metering means to the site of plantlngrsaid tubular member extending sufficiently beyond the lower extremity of said tubular extension to be in close proximity with said soil-opening members when said soil-opening members are in position to form said soil-entering member; a truncated cone mounted on the outer periphery of said tubular member and concentric therewith, `the base of said truncated cone being beyond the plane of the lower extremity of said tubular'extension but short of the .plane of the lower'` extremity ofy said tubular member. said truncated cone being arranged vto maintain seed and fertilizer separate .-during planting; a hand grip mounted on said seed bin; a second hand grip pivotally mounted on an outer wall of said fertilizer bin; means mounted on said angularly displaceable seed and fertilizer metering means and on the arms of said soil-opening members adapted to be actuated by said second hand grip whereby said soil-opening members .are displaced away from each otherl to open the soil of a prepared seed .bed and said seed and fertilizer metering means are angularly displaced to discharge seed and fertilizer into said-tubular member and said tubular extension to deposit seed and fertilizer in the opening in the preparedseed bed made by said soil-opening members. A

3. A portable seed and Afertilizer distributor comprising a seed bin and a fertilizer bln, a conduit-like member supporting said seed and fertilizer bins and adapted to -distribute fertilizer from said fertilizer bin to the site of planting;

.means in said conduit-like member constructed fertilizer is distributed around the inner periphery of said tubular extension; angularly displacesaid fertilizer bin; two shafts-mounted at diametric points on said tubular extension in the-region of the lower extremity thereof, the longitudinal axes lof said shafts being substantially normal to thel vertical axis of said tubular extension' and "enter thesoil of a preparedfsecd bed; at least and arranged to spread said fertilizer around the inner periphery of said conduit-like mem-v ber, a second conduit-like member within said first conduit-like member adapted to`convey seedA to forma Wedge-shaped soil-entering member.; v

at least one arm secured to'each of said soil-opening members and adapted to angularly displace said soil-opening members; a cone-like member mounted on said second conduit-like member in the lower portion thereof and concentric therewith adapted to maintain seed and fertilizer separate during planting and arranged to spread fertilizer aroundv the inner periphery of said firstconduit-like member, the base of said cone-like I member beingfbelow the plane of the lower extremityof said"rstconduitlike -member but above the Aplane of the lower extremity ci said larly 4displaceable fertilizer meteringvrneans inv saidfertilizer bin; a hand grip mounted on said seed bin; a second hand grip pivotally mounted on said fertilizer bin; means mounted on said Aseed and. fertilizer metering means and on the arms Jofsaid soil-openingmembers adapted to v be actuated by said second hand gripwhereby' said soil-opening membersare angularly displaced away' from each other to open the soil of a prepared seed bed and said seed and fertilizer metering means are angularly displaced to discharge seed and fertilizer into said conduit-like members to deposit seed and fertilizer in the 6 opening in the prepared seed bed made by said soil-opening members. I

4. A portable seed and fertilizer distributor comprising a casing having one portion adapted to form separate seed and fertilizer bins and having the lower portion adapted to support said casing in a vertical positionand to convey fertilizer from said fertilizer bin to the-site of planting; means in said casing adapted to spread fertilizer around the inner periphery of the lower portion of said casing, a conduit-like member having at least the lower portion thereof within the fertilizer conveying portion of said casing and extending beyond the lower extremity of said casing, said conduit-like member being adapted to convey seed from said seed bin to the site of planting; angularly displaceable means for opening the soil of a prepared seed bed, each of said means comprising a plate-like portion extending below the lower extremity of said casing and an arm rigidly mounted on said plate-like portion and adapted to angularly displace said plate-like portion; a hand grip mounted on said casing; a second hand grip pivotally mounted on said casing in the portion forming said seed and fertilizer bins; a plurality of .links pivotally mounted on said hand grip, said links including at least one link pivotally -fnounted on an extension of said hand grip and a -second link pivotally mounted on the rst link; said second link having a slot in the region of the lower extremity thereof and extending along the long axis of said second link; a link pivotally mounted near the outer extremity of each of the arms of the means for opening the soil of a prepared seed bed and 40 adapted to be pivotally mounted in said slot in a predetermined position; angularly displaceable seed metering and fertilizer metering meansl mounted in said seed bin and fertilizer bin respectively; an arm mounted on each of 4'5 said seed and fertilizer metering means;- a link pivotally mounted at Yone end `on each of the arms of said metering means yand at the other endpivotally mounted on said pivotallymounted hand grip and'adapted to angularly displace said 50 seed and fertilizer metering lmeans whereby movement of said pivotally mounted handgrip angularly displaces said soil-opening means to open the soil of a prepared seed bed and angui larly displaces said seed and fertilizer meteringA 55 means to discharge seed and fertilizer into said conduit-like member and said casing to pe-con. veyed tothe said opening in said prepared seeo v5. A portable seed and Ifertilizer distributor 0 comprising a seed bin having discharge port in the lower portion thereof; a fertilizer bin having a discharge port in the lower'portion thereof; angularly displaceable seed meteringmeans adapted to close said seed bin discharge port and l,

65 arranged to meter seed and `discharge said metered seed from saidseed bin; angularly displaceable fertilizer metering means mounted in said fertilizer bin discharge portadapted to close said fertilizer bin discharge port and arranged to 70 meter fertilizer'and discharge said metered fertilizer from said fertilizer bln; a conduit-like supporting member subtended from said seed and fertilizer bins and adapted to receive fertilizer from said fertilizer metering means and arranged to discharge said fertilizer to a seed bed; a

- second'conduit-like member, the lower portion at lower extremity of said first conduit-like member and extending beyond the plane of the lower extremity of said first conduit-like member, said base member being adapted to prevent entrance of said first conduit-like member into the soil of a seed bed more than a negligible distance.

6. A portable seed and fertilizer distributor comprising a casing; a fertilizer bin and a seed bin within said casing and having a common wall; a resilient baille mounted on said common wall and adapted to form the` lower portion of a wall and a part'of the bottom of said seed bin; a discharge port formed by the free end of said resilient baille and the lower portion of the opposite Wall of said seed bin; angularly dsplaceable seed metering means mounted in said seed bin discharge port; a discharge port in .the bottom 'of said fertilizer bin; anguiarly displaceable fertilizer metering means mounted in said discharge port adapted to meter fertilizer and arranged to close said discharge port and to discharge metered fertilizer; a conduit-like supporting member subtended 'from said fertilizer bin and adapted to `receive metered fertilizer and to discharge the inthe lower region of said second conduit-like member adapted to maintain seed and fertilizer separate during planting and arranged to spread fertilizer aroundfthe inner periphery of said first conduit-like member; a base member mounted in the region of the lower extremity of said first conduit-like member and extending slightly beyond the plane of the lower extremity of said second conduit-like member, said base member being adapted to prevent entrance of said second conduit-likemember into the soil of a seed bed vmore than a negligible depth; a hand grip mounted on `said casing and adapted to provide means vto holdsaid casing steady during operation; a second hand grip pivotally mounted on said casing and adapted to angularly displace sai/d seed and fertilizer metering means whereby seed and fertilizer are/ discharged substantially simultaneously at. substantially the same ground level Without substantial contamination of the seed by the fertilizer. Y

f LEVI JACK PE'I'IETT. 

